Gum massaging device



J. A. MAKER Gum MASSAGING DEVICE Aug. 11, 1931.

Filed Feb. 2, 1925 gnvwntoz Patented Aug. 11, 1931 JOHN A. MAKER, OFDULUTH, MINNESOTA GUM MASSAGING DEVICE,

Application filed February My present invention relates to a method ofphysical culture and device for accomplishing same, and particularly tosuch a A method of and device for the maintenance-of 5 healthyconditions in the human mouth; the

latter being the principal object of the invention.

Another object and advantage of the novel technique and device is theaccomplishment ofsuch healthful culture by the manipulation of thesubjects jaws as for example in the act of biting, chewing, or othermovement thereof.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefurther description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisapplication, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective View looking intoone of the exercisingmatrices or cups;

Figure 2 is a similar view of a pair of the matrices or cups having avibrating plate between same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section of a tooth and adjacent gumsshowing the relative position of one of the exercising cups as appliedthereto, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one form of vibrating plate to be usedin conjunction with the cups.

The beneficial results to the human body derived from the practice ofphysical culture are well known, and the same as applied to the humanmouth is fully appreciated by specialists in the art of dentistry.

To obtain best results in carrying out the instant invention, it becomesessential to not only treat each patient or subject individually, but toprepare the device for such treatment individually. To accomplish this,one or more matrices or cup-like exercises such as illustrated at 1 and2 are made for the individual subject.

This may be accomplished in any desired manner such for example astaking impressions of the teeth and adjacent gums of the subject, makinga casting preferably for each jaw from said impressions for example 2,1925. Serial No. 6,404.

of plaster of Paris, or the like; then removing from the castings thusmade material to preferably form a continuous concave groove in thatpart of the casting representing the gum and in close proximity to theline of same with the teeth so that the ultimate exercising cup, formedfrom the casting, will carry a slightly protruding portion wherever suchremovals have beenmade, either in the form of a continuous groove or aplurality of individual spots. This protruding portion or portions areillustrated at 3 in the drawings and are for the purpose of provid ingmeans whereby abnormal frictional contact and compression are causedintermediate of the cup and that portion of the mouth thus contactedwhen the exerciser is being used. That is to say if the cup'or cups weremade a perfect fit in the mouth, any biting effect thereupon when placedwithin the mouth would not produce the desired massaging or culture'ofthe gums, but, as is obvious, if the cups are made to abnormallyfrictionally engage the gums, (the extent of which abnormality may becontrolled as experience dictates), the moment pressure is brought uponthe cups as for example by the act of biting, the gumswill be slightlycompressed or indented, and the desired result obtained.

It is possible thatother ways of increasing the tightness of fit of thecups may be resorted to for example by'reducing the size of theimpressions with coatings of shellac or the like sothat when theultimatev cup is formed will be slightly smaller than the CliHIGHSiOHSOfthG mouth and a roughened condition of the gum engaging surface forbest frictional and compression results accomplished in some other waywithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

These cups I prefer to form of rubber of a yieldable consistencyapproximately equal or somewhat less ieldable than the gum tissue, andif desired the main body portion of the cup may be reinforced as by amore rigid layer or' covering of rubber, indicated at 4c in Figure 3,or, if proven desirable this reinforcement may be of some light materialas for example aluminum or the like, so as to insure more positivemassaging action.

In Figure 3 I have shown the outer or reenforcing member 4 as beingfaced with a more yieldable tread surfacing as at 5 for engagementeither with the teeth of the opposing jaw in the event of but a singlecup being used or with a like facing on the opposing cup when a pair areused. This facing of soft rubber is provided particularly to avoidpossible unpleasant sound as well as sensation of the intermittentengagement of the harder surfaced material. of which the reinforcingmember may be made, and particularly so if the same be of metal.

IVhen either one or .a pair of these massaging or culture cups areplaced in the mouth from which they were made and repeated biting orgnawing action resorted to, a most thorough and ideal massaging of thegums results.

If it becomes desirable to augment this action as for example in specialcases of diseased conditions of the mouth a more penetrating vibratoryeffect may be produced by placing a horseshoe shaped metal memberindicated at 6 in Figure i of the drawings intermediate of a pair ofcups and having the patient firmly bite said vibrating member when anydesired form of vibrator may be attached to the stem 7 formed integralwith the shoe 6 whereby a more thorough agitation of the gum tissue andteeth may be acis well known, is the stimulation of blood flow and nerveenergy in the tissue resulting in normal mouth hygiene.

The vibrating plate 6 is provided with marginal flanges 8 to insureproper registering thereof with the cups and in lieu of such flanges theplate might be corrugated or otherwise roughened to prevent its slippingabout when being used in the mouth.

It is further evident that when desirable any form of medicine ordentifrice considered beneficial when applied to the mouth may be mostconveniently and e liicaciously accomplished by first applying same tothe cups and when the latter are put into the mouth and manipulated asabove described every iota of surface in and about the teeth and gums istreated, thus producing an extremely efficient massaging tooth brush.

Furthermore in the forming of the improved culture cups it is to benoted that other phases of mouth defects may be improved by resorting tocareful registration of the facial dimensions, bite, etc., of thesubject, and forming the cups in accordance with well known scientificrules, such for example as gained by the use of Monsons or other likearticulators so that if any one or more teeth produce inlished, theprincipal object of which as ,7 correct articulatiop the same will berecorded in the cups and if they are correctly' formed to comply withthe scientifically correct delineation in accordance with the individualface dimensions, will, when used in the mouth, tend to correct theabnormality.

WVhile I have shown and described means for taking exact impressions ofan individual mouth so that the cups when applied thereto will fitperfectly, it is apparent that somewhat satisfactory results may beaccomplished by using an approximately correctly formed resilient cup,such, for example, as might be previously prepared in various sizes forsuch purpose.

From the foregoing it is evident that I have produced a novel method ofand device for physically cultivating a healthy condition in the humanmouth, and, having thus described my invention, what I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

A device of the character described comprising a pair of U-shapedexercising cups having flat cooperatively engageable faces, and aU-shaped vibrating plate for engagement intermediate of the cups.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

JOHN A. MAKER.

